eyes, ears, and fuzzy on the tongue...

I was not usually fond of saying, or hearing as a matter of fact, comparisons. What I mean is the point in the conversation when one of us inevitably says "this painting looks like a Monet crossed with so n so" or "this could be the great sound of the Mazzy-Roses-Underground..."

This is in fact Arnaud P. Witomsk from France whom i'd never heard a song from before, which I like very much btw, but immediately heard in this song the sounds that I have a rapport with...

Previously my feelings towards comparisons I could say, was not much more than a slight apprehension that my reference was way off base, uncouth, or that I had no idea who my friend was talking about. Thus being thrown under the bus or worse, being uncool.But damn if it isn't one of the best ways to get to the coolest parts of someone's creative endeavor. Gilberto Gil said something to the point that "There is no creativity in a vacuum. Everything comes from somewhere, from before. Everything." So it couldn't be more satisfying to be able to get what the artists were into, influenced by, or begged/stole and borrowed from.

So I listen to new music, talk about it and share it with my friends. I reference it to something, then go and find the artists I was thinking about... simple enough, right?

I think this band "The Sons" has a great sound and great writing. The songs are a great example in that they make me want to go through Neil Young's records, especially "Harvest" and hear how they compare and most important, how these new songs absorbed an influence into what breathes life into a tune...

2 Comments

I agree that creativity in a vacuum is kind of a myth. I also really like what you said about how music can conjure up a million little things, some solid and some very fleeting. Good derivative work always leaves me feeling confused, drawn-in and curious.